LudumData

Someone please help

[raw] LD20LD #20 - It's Dangerous to go Alone! Take This! 30. Apr 2011 · 16:02 UTC · 40 hours after compo start by Mikhail Rudoy · 2

Does anyone know whether making a(n almost exact) Zelda clone would be a copyright infringement? Also how about the rules of LD and using the same graphics as Zelda?

PS despite the fact that I am planning an almost exact copy, the difference should be worth it, so yes, I know that just copying Zelda defeats the purpose, but I do have a reason for wanting to make it as reminiscent of Zelda as possible.

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Mikhail Rudoy

Tags: LD20

Comments

snowyowl
30. Apr 2011 · 16:07 UTC
Yes. Yes it would.

But I don’t think you’d get banned from the competition, and you certainly won’t get sued because Nintendo have better things to do.
toxicfork
30. Apr 2011 · 16:09 UTC
IMO, yes, it would be. Maybe it won’t be infringement if you use your own assets and story and don’t copy all of the gameplay.

But I’m no lawyer so I might be wrong!
30. Apr 2011 · 16:10 UTC
I am not a lawyer, but I’m quite sure that you can’t use any of the graphics or music from Zelda because of both copyright law and the rules of this contest.
TellusE
30. Apr 2011 · 16:13 UTC
I hardly think anyone has a copyright on a 2d tilebased “slash-puzzler”, but using art assets not made by yourself during the 48 hours are clearly against the rules, though.